JPH08147579A - Robbery prevention device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a light burglar prevention device which operates with high reliability and whose structure is simple. CONSTITUTION: The burglar prevention device fitted to an article which is easily stolen contains a first element 1 and a connection unit 5 protruding from it is provided. The connection unit is inserted through the article to be protected. The article is locked to the device by fitting/locking it to a second element. The first element contains a contaminant container 6 which is easily damaged. It discharges contaminant contained in the container when the element is tried to be released each other, makes the article so that it cannot be used and it is destroyed or crushed. The first element has one pieces structure and contains a recessed part 7 having an opening part from which the container 6 is inserted. The connection unit 5 can be arranged so that it can be inserted into a base element and it is constituted to hold the container in the recessed part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device, which is intended to be attached to articles which are susceptible to theft, and which comprises a first element, from which the first element projects and is protected. It has a connection unit intended to be inserted through the article to be inserted. The article is locked in the anti-theft device by means of a second element which can be mounted and locked in the connection unit. One of the aforementioned elements contains a frangible container that contains contaminants and is intended to break or crush this container if they try to release the elements from each other without permission. As a result, pollutants are released from the container, making the article unusable in relation to it.

Anti-theft devices of this type are used to prevent theft of attractive items and to prevent people from theft of such items, such as clothing, footwear, bags and other easily carried items from retail stores. To be Anti-theft devices of this kind are intended to be attached to articles so that they can only be removed from the article with the help of special release devices. It has been postulated that persons who may steal may not be able to access this special release device, at least not where the goods are sold. The purpose of such an anti-theft device is to destroy the article or to dye, stink or otherwise if an attempt is made to remove or prune this device without the aid of a special release device. The article is put to practical use by either breaking a fragile container containing any suitable contaminants and releasing the contaminants to contaminate the article or otherwise damaging the article. The purpose is to make it unusable.

Anti-theft devices of this kind can often be purchased and used in large quantities. This means that certain requirements are placed on the functional and constructive design of such protection. Therefore, it is very important that the antitheft device has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost. There is also a high demand for the functional reliability of the operating elements in the device. Because these elements are often used with expensive capital goods. For example, these elements should be designed to ensure that if an unauthorized person attempts to remove the elements of the device from each other in various possible ways, they will damage the article. If the container containing the contaminant is breached by such unauthorized action, this element may effectively spread the contaminant to the intended item, rendering it unusable. is important. At the same time, the structure must be such that destruction of the container of contaminants is avoided when the article or anti-theft device is in normal handling. The device must also be lightweight. This is especially important if the article to be protected is of thin or delicate material. This is because if an object that is too heavy is hoisted, the article may be damaged or torn.

Anti-theft devices of the type described, including contaminant containers, have been known in the art in various forms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,122 teaches an anti-theft device in which one element or part comprises one or more ampoule of contaminants, which ampoule together with a connecting unit in a housing or casing. Enclosed and fixed. The casing is made up of two parts, which are welded or somehow permanently joined together. Similarly,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,172 teaches an anti-theft device that includes a contaminant ampoule and other components mounted between two casing parts, which are joined together by ultrasonic welding. Together, the components are contained within a casing. These and other known anti-theft devices have a complex construction, ie the manufacture and assembly of such devices is expensive. Assembling the various elements or parts in known anti-theft devices also requires the use of special equipment, such as ultrasonic welding equipment, which adds to the cost of production.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems by providing a light weight anti-theft device which is very reliable in operation, yet simple in construction and therefore inexpensive to manufacture. It is to solve.

According to the invention, this object has been achieved by an antitheft device of the construction defined by the claims which follow.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments of the invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the anti-theft device of the present invention generally comprises four major components. These are the base element 4, the locking element 2,
The contaminant container 6 and the connection unit 5. The base element 4, the contaminant container 6 and the connection unit 5 together form the first element, or first part, of the device.

The connecting unit 5 is arranged in the base element 4 such that the connecting element 11, which is generally pin-shaped, projects from one side 19 of the base element 4. The connecting element 11 cooperates with the locking element 2 so that the locking element 2 is connected with the connecting element and automatically locked thereon against movement in the direction away from the base element 4.

The locking element 2 is shown in broken lines in FIG. The design of this locking element is not a part of the present invention. The locking element comprises several small metal balls arranged in a ball sleeve and a ball guide, which is acted upon by the separating element against the base element 4 and the locking element 2 in the form of a pin-shaped connecting element 11. It is intended to be clamped firmly against, while the spheres are arranged so as not to prevent the two elements 2 and 4 from moving axially towards each other. Of course, other types of locking devices having the same or similar functionality can be implemented within the scope of the invention.

The article intended to be secured on which the illustrated anti-theft device is to be protected is not shown in the drawing. However, the device is
1 is attached to the article by inserting it through a suitable position in the article or through a small hole already present in the article, such as a buttonhole, and then the locking element 2 is fitted to the connecting element 11. The two elements are locked to each other and thus also to the article located between them.

The locking device can be released in a known manner with the help of a release device. This release is performed, for example, after the item has been paid and the receipt has been issued, so that the locking element 2, and thus the entire antitheft device, can be released and removed from the item. It will be appreciated that only the authorized person, eg a cashier, can access the release device.

The base element 4 is shown in detail in FIGS.
The base element 4 consists of an element, preferably made of plastics material, which has the shape of a one-piece construction, for example an injection-molded construction. The base element 4 is formed in individual details in such a way that it requires less material and is therefore lighter in weight.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a through mounting hole 9 is provided in the mounting bridge 12, preferably in the center, of the base element 4. Mounting bridge 12
Extends into a generally cylindrical cavity 13 provided in the center of the base element 4 and is secured to the wall of the cylinder by means of a fastener part 14. The fastener portion 14 mates with a suspension portion 15 which is arranged generally perpendicular to the fastener portion. The mounting hole 9 extends through the suspension portion 15 parallel to its flat outer wall 23. See FIG.

A tongue 16 extends from the outer end of the flat outer wall 23 of the mounting bridge 12. The thin connection between the tongue 16 and the suspension portion 15 allows the tongue to pivot easily around the outer edge of the suspension portion. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the tongue 16,
It can be seen from this figure that a shoulder 17 is provided on the underside of the tongue in the longitudinal direction of the mounting bridge 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the base element 4 includes an elongated recess 7. The recess 7 is preferably aligned with the flat outer wall 23 of the mounting bridge 12,
It is connected to the cylindrical cavity 13. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the recess 7 is completely open towards the outside 18 of the base element but only partially towards the inside 19 of said base element. is there.

The inside 19 of the base element comprises a generally circular lip 20 which projects outwards, the opening of the recess 7 extending radially inward of the lip in the direction towards the inside 19 of the base element. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking element 2 is preferably circular, with its outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the lip 20. As a result, when the locking element 2 is locked to the base element 4, the locking element will be partially surrounded by the lip 20. This configuration makes it more difficult to force the two parts apart from each other. Because
It is difficult or even impossible to insert a tool between the parts.

The contaminant container 6 preferably comprises a tubular circular cylindrical ampoule made of glass or some other fragile material. The interior of the ampoule is preferably under a given overpressure and contains liquid contaminants in the form of dyes and / or malodorous substances. The outer dimensions of the ampoule, i.e. its length and diameter, are such that the ampoule 6 can be accommodated in the recess 7.

As mentioned above, the connecting unit 5 comprises a connecting element 11 in the form of a pin or a needle-shaped part and an abutment part 8 configured as a circular head on the connecting element 11 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Including. The connection unit 5 is preferably made of metal, but may alternatively be made of other materials within the scope of the invention.

Due to the particular construction of the base element 4, the various parts of the anti-theft device 1 can be assembled very easily and effectively. The tongue 16 is first untwisted so that the recess 7 is completely exposed so that the ampoule 6 can be positioned in the recess. The ampoule 6 is supported at its end against movement towards the inside 19 of the base element, as best seen in FIG. Recess 7
Is larger than the diameter of the ampoule 6. This means that the outer surface of the ampoule is located inside the outer surface of the outer 18 of the base element. Ampoule 6
It is therefore well protected in the base element 4, but can be clearly seen from outside the element, which has an antitheft effect.

After positioning the ampoule 6 in the recess 7, the needle-shaped connecting element 11 enters into the mounting hole 9 in the mounting bridge 12 from the outside 18 of the base element and passes through it. The portion 24 on the surface of the connecting element 11 or alternatively the surface of the mounting hole 9 or its dimensions exerts pressure on the connecting element 11 in order to pass the connecting element 11 through the mounting hole 9 in a press-fit manner. Is properly formed to require.
The connection unit 5 is thereby held by friction in the position inserted into the base element 4. Connection unit 5
When the tongue 16 is inserted into the mounting hole 9, the tongue 16
Is pushed back to the position where it abuts. In the assembled state, the abutment portion 8 is thus placed on its flat lower surface against the tongue 16 and its shoulder 17 against the ampoule 6. The anti-theft element 1 is thus assembled with only a few manual operations and no mechanical device is required to connect the anti-theft device. Therefore, the cost of production is substantially reduced.

If an attempt is made to force the locking element 2 locked on the connecting element 11 out of the anti-theft element 1, the force and / or the side pulling on the locking element 2 in the movement of the connecting element 11 Force is generated. The movement of the connecting element 11 and thus of the abutment portion 8 is also facilitated by the mounting bridge 12 being mounted in such a way as to allow the bridge and thus the suspension means of the connecting unit 5 to flex or bend. . As the ampoule 6 containing the contaminants is supported against movement at its end, the ampoule 6 is crushed by the surface pressure exerted by the tongue 16, shoulder 17 and abutment 8 as a result of this movement, Or it is bent in the central region and thereby destroyed.

The connecting unit 5 including the connecting element 11 and the abutment part 8 therefore effectively secures the ampoule 6 in the base element 4 and the ampoule 6 when the antitheft device is forcefully handled. It has two functions, a means to destroy.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but several variants are conceivable within the scope of the claims. In the exemplary embodiment, an anti-theft device is described that includes only one contaminant container, but it will be understood that the invention also includes devices that include several contaminant containers. . It is also understood that different types of contaminant containers than those described and illustrated may be used in accordance with the present invention, and that the container is not limited to the illustrated and described longitudinal ampoule shapes. right. Further, the pressure inside the container may be atmospheric pressure rather than overpressure. The recess provided in the base element for housing the contaminant container may have a different shape than that shown and may be appropriately adapted to the shape of the container. The ampoule or container may be supported against movement in whole or in part.

The anti-theft device of the present invention is attached to one of the elements of the device, such that it is activated if the article to which it is attached is to be taken out of the store without paying a fee. The alarm means may be provided. The locking element, which can be attached and locked to the connecting element, can have any profile and therefore does not necessarily have to be housed inside a circular protective lip or flange. According to another preferred embodiment, this locking element extends wider than the anti-theft element, instead surrounding the outer end of the anti-theft element.

The invention also covers the case where the base element is not provided with an elastic bridge for hoisting the connection unit and instead the connection unit is diametrically fixed to the base element, in which case A configuration is provided that allows some flexibility in the suspension of the connection unit. This is accomplished, for example, by partially thinning the material to provide elasticity to the configuration or by breaking the material to form weakened portions that provide elasticity to the configuration.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the connecting element and / or the mounting hole are dimensioned such that in the assembled state the connecting element is freely and rotatably mounted in the mounting hole. Good. A stop washer, which cooperates with a groove in the connecting element inside the base element, is arranged to hold and lock the connecting unit in the position inserted in the base element. The connection unit is thus locked in the base element so as to form a swivel head.

The base element may be arranged such that the abutment portion is placed directly against the contaminant container in the absence of intermediate tongues or other portions that are affected by the abutment portion. The abutment portion may be differently positioned on the connecting element and may have other configurations.
For example, it may comprise two parts, one part forming the breaking element and the other forming the fixing element. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting unit is provided with a needle-shaped connecting element, to which the annular abutment is fixed, for example soldered. The annular abutment is shaped to surround the contaminant container,
After placing the container in the annular abutment, the connecting unit is inserted into the mounting hole. The annular abutment part has the aforementioned dual function of securing the container in the base element and of destroying the container if a force acts to disengage the anti-theft device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view of an anti-theft device of the present invention viewed from one side (outside).

FIG. 2 is a line II-I in FIG. 1 in which few second elements or parts that can be locked to the connecting element are shown.
1 is a sectional view of the device along I. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view of the device of the invention from the opposite (inner) side of FIG. 1, with the second element omitted for clarity.

4 is a cross-sectional view of this device along line IV-IV of FIG. 1, omitting the connecting element and the lockable second element.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-theft device similar to FIG. 4, taken along line VV of FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the tongue taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Anti-theft device 2 Locking element 4 Base element 5 Connection unit 6 Contaminant container 7 Recess

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An anti-theft device intended for mounting on a vulnerable article, intended to be inserted through a base element (4) and an article protruding from the base element and to be protected. First element (1) including a longitudinal connecting unit (5)
And a second element (2) attachable and lockable to the connection unit (5) against movement away from the base element (4), the first element (1) further comprising at least 1 One contaminant container (6), which is destroyed, crushed or otherwise damaged when the connection unit (5) is manipulated to release contaminants from the container (6). It is intended that said anti-theft device is such that the base element (4) is a one-piece structure, the base element (4) comprising a recess (7), which comprises a container (6).
Has an opening into which it can be inserted, the connection unit (5) being arranged for insertion in the base element (4) and contaminating the recess (7). To hold and secure the material container (6) and to directly or indirectly destroy, crush, or some other way the container (6) when the connection unit (5) is operated by force. Anti-theft device, characterized in that it is configured to damage. 2. The container (6) is at least partially supported within the recess (7) against movement in at least one direction,
The connection unit (5) comprises an abutment portion (8) which, directly or indirectly, abuts the side surface of the pollutant container (6) opposite to said direction, thereby holding the container firmly in the recess (7). The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft device is fixed. 3. The connecting unit (5) is elastically mounted in the base element (4) and is insertably mounted in a mounting hole (9) in the base element (4). Anti-theft device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a connecting element (11). 4. Anti-theft device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mounting holes (9) are provided in a mounting bridge (12) which is elastically arranged in the base element (4). 5. Connection element (11) and mounting hole (9)
According to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the mounting holes are dimensioned to exert a given resistance to the insertion of the connecting element in the manner of a press fit. Anti-theft device. 6. The connecting element (11) is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole (9) and is inserted into the base element (4) by a stop washer arranged on the connecting element (11). The lock according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that
The anti-theft device described in any one of 1. 7. The recess (7) in the base element (4) is such that the container (6) in the recess (7) is visible from the outside of the device in such a way that it projects outside the connecting element (11). Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it opens in opposite directions. 8. The container (6) is an elongate ampoule, which is supported by a support element (21) against movement in a direction towards the outwardly projecting part of the connecting element (11). ) In its end and an opening is provided between the supports (21) in the direction towards the outwardly projecting part of the connecting element (11) through which the ampoule is broken. Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that contaminants released in the event of a breach can pass through. 9. The connection element (11) is arranged in the center of the base element (4), the base element (4) being the connection element (1).
1) comprises a circularly outwardly projecting lip (20) arranged coaxially with said lip (20) intended to partially enclose the second element (2) in the locked state. The antitheft device according to claim 1, wherein the antitheft device is an antitheft device. 10. Anti-theft device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that either the second element (2) or the base element (4) comprises an electronic alarm unit. 11. Contaminant container (6), directly or indirectly so that the connection unit (5) or the base element (4) destroys said container when the connection unit (5) is operated by force. Container destruction means (8,15,1)
Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises 6). 12. Anti-theft device according to claim 11, characterized in that the container destruction means comprises an abutment part (8).